Two months back when a dear friend returned to Bangalore, we started looking for a bigger house. We always prefer to avoid brokers. We surfed almost all the real estate sites and newspapers. Went to see lot of houses in different areas but some or other way none conform to our requirements. Some were not worth for their rent, transport, sanitation, etc. Then one 'fine' day came across one ad about an apartment with Mr. X as contact, called him and fixed a appointment next day evening at 6. He arrived around 8, after excusing himself 5-5 minutes for half a dozen times. "We will not take house from him, even if he shows something excellent" , my friend said. Later we realized we should have stuck to those words. Anyway we saw the house, liked it and paid Rs 5000 as advance. Luckily we took the receipt. Mr. X , driving a old scooter, described himself to be very close to a top Karnataka politician, claiming to have 4 such buildings.
Next weekend got a call from Mr. X, that he has got a medical emergency and he is not in Bangalore. Someone is admitted to hospital and he needs some money to be deposited to a hospital nearby my house. Considering his jactitations and connections, it was a surprise that he chose us for asking help, who he met couple of days back. It was kind of dilemma, but then with our weakness of 'can't say no' gave Rs 2000. He promised that he will return it next day but he didn't and we also didn't ask assuming that it will be settled while preparing rental agreement.
Then we met with him one more time at the building, he told that around 15th June agreement will be done. My friend left for Lucknow (his maiden trip in 12-13 months). 15th I got a call that all the agreements will be done from 25th June. We were okay with that. 24th I got a call that he got busy with something and will hand over the keys on Monday 27th and we can move in. Sunday I went to building and the apartment what he showed me was already occupied by someone. I called him and he told that I will be getting some different apartment as some elderly senior person came and he gave him that one. Now I started suspecting his intentions.
Anyway Monday afternoon I got a message from Mr. X that he got some family problem and he can't pick the phone but I can SMS if I have to ask something. Then started the SMS marathon. He was replying with lengthy messages but not ready to come on phone and talk. He postponed it on Tuesday. Tuesday again same story only SMSes. I called him from different number, he picked this time asked me to come at some place and then he didn't turn up. Then his accomplice called me and told that some 'Madam' (Mr. X's mother) is not ready to give it to bachelors. This was shocking and disturbing. I got around 10 SMSes that Mr. X is trying to convince his mother but she is adamant. But still he didn't come on phone. We had already given notice to current landlord.
Finally after getting fed up with all this, we came back and asked (messaged) him to return the advance that we paid. Meanwhile I talked with my current landlord, luckily no one has booked the house, so I extended it for one more month (yeah with increase in the rent).
Next day, Wednesday, whole day Mr. X kept dilly-dallying through messages, asked us to come over to some place, didn't turn up, even stopped replying to messages and finally switched off the phone. Switching off the phone was the last straw. Next number I dialed was 100, got the Bangalore control room number and then number of local Police station where we were asked to come next day at 10 AM.
We reached the station around 9, told everything which was little difficult (as we don't know the local language). Some police fellow called him and he told that he will come by 11 o' clock. Again we went at 11 and shift has changed in the police station, so whole new staff and we had to narrate our story all over again. Again they called him, he told he will come soon, didn't turn up, called again, this time he told he will come in 15 minutes, didn't come this time too, now the police fellow got little angry and called again, this time he didn't pick the phone.
Then I got a call from a unknown number, who claimed to be Mr. X's friend and a local political party leader. He talked to police and promised that Mr. X has got some problem today and he will return the money tomorrow and he personally took the guarantee. Next day after marathon round of SMSes and phone calls, I was asked to come at some place to collect money which obviously I denied. Finally money was sent by a Auto driver to my office address, for which he charged Rs 300. So, finally I got my money back.
That was a moral victory for us. It was never about the amount, it was about how people break the trust of others, how one should not be taken for ride just because he is not sly, it was about if there is any rule in the land.
But there were some hard lessons learnt at the end of all this.
---Hari.
